Obstetrical or similar bed



June 14, 1938. A. coMPER ET A1.

OBSTETRICAL OR SIMILAR BED www Filed Feb. s, 195e .5 sheets-sheet 1 June 14, 1938.

A. COMPER ET AL ,oBsTETRIcAL oa SIMILAR BED Filed Feb. 3, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmc/wma Jim@ M9 1938o A. coMPER ET AL y OBSTETRICAL OR SIMILAR BED mmm Filed Feb. 3, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 R/AA/ COMPEH A f7. TMACKACHE/QN Inu s m .Hu

wh/Lena June m, 1938., A, COMPEJR' E1!- L 2,120,132

OBSTETRICAL OR SIMILAR BED v Filed Feb. s, 193e 5 sheets-sheet 4 June 14, '1938. A. coMPER ET AL 2,120,732

OBSTETRICAL OR SIMILAR BED wif/M069 Patented June 14, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT orties os'rE'rmoAL on SIMILAR. Een

Adrian Comper, Pittsfield, Mass., and Malcolm T. MacEachern, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Hospital Appliances, Inc., Pittsfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 3,1936, vSerial No. 62,212

l Claims. (Cl. 311-27) The invention relates principally tovobstetrical quietly lowered without in any manner disturbbeds for use in the delivery-of infants, and it ing the patient; to provide a structure in which aims primarily to rprovide an unusually simple said drop frame may be returned to normal poand practicable bed Which will aord maximum sition with equal dispatch; to connect the drop r comfort and assistance to the prospective methframe permanently with the track frame, allovv- 5 er, `maximum convenience to the attending phying it to be raised to operative position to make sician, nurse and anesthetist, and maximum inthe patient as comfortable as possible even if it surance against confusion vand delays in moving should be necessary that said track frame and n the patient from the initial at-rest position to the mattress sections be left in an inclined posi- ;10 delivery position, or to any other position which tion after delivery. 10 the exigenciesof the case may require, for in- Still further objects are to make novel prostance, to high lithotomy position or to shock vision for vertically adjusting and tilting the position. track frame as may be required to similarly ad- The mattressV of the bed is formed of a main just or tilt the mattress sections; to provide a 1'5 sectionto support the patient from head to butunique relation of tracks, rollers and frame bars 15 tocks, and an auxiliary section to support the for limiting the movement of thevmain mattress legs. The main mattress section is carried by a frame along the track frame; and to provide a main mattress `frame movable along a track novel base frame for the tiltable and vertically frame, and the auxiliary mattress section is caradjustable track frame which Will aid the phy- 120 ried by an auxiliary drop frame, said main matsician in case he must rather forcibly pull upon 20 tress frame being provided with leg supports with the infant, and will permit the anesthetist to which the patients legs are engaged when the conveniently follow the patient to delivery posidelivery time nears. The drop frame and its tion and maintain her station at the patients mattress section 'are then Vlowered and the main head. v

.25 lmattress (frame, main mattress section and leg- With the foregoing and minor objects in View, supporting f means supporting the patient are theinvention resides in the novel subject matter bodily moved along the track frame to a delivery hereinafter vdescribed and claimed, description position'at the foot end of the bed and latched being accomplished by reference to the accomin said position, placing the patient conveniently panying drawings.

:so for the physician. Immediately after delivery, it Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the bed 30 is often necessary that the patient be supported adjusted to` shock position. in an inclined shock position, and a further ob- Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section ject of the invention is to provide a structure in in normal position.

WhCh thiS may be instantly and Safely aCCOm- Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section plished Without moving the patient from the foot in delivery position. end of the bed or disturbing her in the least. In Fig. 4 is a top plan of the track frame and subthis connection, a still further aim is to provide jacent parts, partly in horizontal section.

a structure in which the main and auxiliary Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line 5-5 of mattress sections may be restored to a common Fig. 2. E L40 plane While heldin an inclined position, to com- Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section on line 6 6 40 fortably support the patient if it be required that of Fig. 5.

she remain forV a comparatively long time in Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are detail vertical sections on shock position. lines 1-|, 8 8, and 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Another object isto provide for holding the Figs. 10 and l1 are detail horizontal sections main mattress section in an intermediate posion lines ID-lli and ll-I l, of Fig. 6.

lSOH between its dlively and IlOrmal DOStOnS if A preferred construction has been illustrated desired. Thus, after delivery. unless the mother and will be rather specincally deseiribedjwith the must OCCU-pythe ShOCk DOStOIl, Said main matunderstanding however, that Withinthe scope of tress section may be slid to said intermediate pothe invention as claimed, variations may be sition and held, exposing a suilicient part of the made. 50 auxiliary mattress section for use to support the A base frame F of one-piece construction is newly born infant While gVlg it the necessary provided. Upon this base frame, an elongated immediate attention. track frame T is mounted for vertical adjust- `Other objects are to provide for so supporting ment, not only for the convenience of the phy- A the drop frame that it may be rapidly, easily and sicianbut to facilitate transfer of the prospective 55 mother from a wheeled stretcher or carrier of one height or another, to the bed, and vice versa. The track frame T is also tiltably mounted for moving the patient to shock position whenever advisable. A main mattress-supporting frame M and an auxiliary drop frame D are both supported by the track trame T, said frame M carrying a main mattress section S to support the patient from head to buttocks and the frame D being provided with an` auxiliary mattress section S 4to support the legs. Carried by the frame M are leg-supporting means L which may be vertically adjusted, swung about vertical pivots or tilted upon horizontal pivots. y

The drop frame D is mounted in such manner that it may be easily, quickly and noiselessly lowered to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and the main mattress frame M is mounted for movement along the track frame T, so that after said drop frame D and the mattress section S are lowered, said frame M and the mattress section S may be moved to a delivery position at the foot end of the bed as seen in Figs. 1 and 3. Before dropping of the drop frame D and its mattress section S', the prospective mothers legs are gently lifted from said mattress section and engaged with the leg-supporting means L, permitting lowering of said frame D and mattress section S without confusion or inconvenience and allowing the patient with her legs comfortably supported, to be quickly moved to delivery position. The leg-supporting means L may be adjusted as may be required, even to high lithotomy position and the track frame T may be tilted as seen in Fig. 1 should it be necessary to move the patient to shock position. During such tilting, there is no danger of the frame M sliding toward the head end of the bed, due to the fact that it is held in delivery position by self-applied latches hereinafter described.

Preferred features of construction will now be described, starting with the base frame F. This base frame includes parallel'horizontally elongated side frames 20 disposedin vertical planes and provided with brake-equipped casters V2|, each of said side frames preferably comprising an arched tube 22 whose ends are equipped with the casters 2|, and a longitudinal connecting tube 23 whose ends are welded or otherwise secured to the end portions of the tube 22. Each side frame 20 also includes a substantially central vertical tube 24 which is welded or otherwise secured to the crown of the tube 22 and to the tube 23. At the head end of the bed, the side frames 20 are free of means connecting them with each other, but at other suitable locations, transverse frame members 25, 26 21, and 28 have been shown rigidly connecting said side frames with each other. The frame member 21 is located near the floor at the foot end of the bed in such position that the attending physician can conveniently brace his feet against the same should it be necessary to pull rather strenuously upon the infant. While this bar is shown straight, it may be inwardly bowed if desired to allow the physician to stand somewhat nearer to the patient.

Two gear casings 29 are secured upon the side frames 20, said casings having openings -38 in their bottoms and openings 3| in their tops, said openings 30 and 3| being vertically alined and the openings 3|) being in lcommunication with the tubes 24. The vertical lsides of the 'casings 29 are formed with openings 32 horizontally alined transversely of the bed. Jack-screws 33 are received in the tubes 24 and pass through the openings 30 and 3|, and worm-wheels 34 within the casings 29, are threaded upon said jack-screws. A transverse shaft 35 passes through the openings 32 of the casings 29 and is provided with a hand crank or the like 36 by means of which it may be rotated, and worms 31 are secured upon said shaft within the casings 29, said worms being in mesh with the worm-wheelsV 34.

The upper ends of the jack-screws 33 are suitably secured to horizontally elongated head blocks 38 and the track frame T is pivotally supported upon one end of these head blocks. Preferably a transverse'pivot rod 39 passes through lugs 40 on the head blocks 38 and through openings in the side bars 4| of the track frame T to pivotally mount the latter.

The ends of the head blocks 38 remote from the lugs 40 are hollow, the bottoms of these hollow end portions being formed with openings 42 and the tops thereof with openings 43. The sides of these hollow end portions are formed with openings 44 alined transversely of the bed. Bottom plates 45 are preferably secured to the head blocks 38 and are provided with vertical tubes 46 which receive vertical jack-screws 41, said jack-screws passing through the openings 42 and 43 and having their upper ends operatively connected with the side bars 4| of the track frame T. Wormwheels 48 within the hollow end portions of the head blocks 38 are threaded upon the jack-screws 41, said worm-Wheels meshing with worms 49 in -said hollow end portions. These worms are secured to a transverse shaft 50 which passes through the openings 44 and is provided with a hand wheel or the like by means of which it may be rotated.

Rotation of the shaft 35 by means of the crank or the like 36, elevates or lowers the jack-screws 33 and their head blocks 38 to vertically adjust the track frame T and parts carried thereby. Rotation of shaft 50 by means of the hand wheel or the like 5| vertically moves the jack-screws 41 to tilt the track frame T and parts carried thereby, as may be required. The side bars 4| lof this track frame are preferably of channeled form with their channels disposed inwardly. and in connecting the jack-screws v41 with said side bars, we prefer to provide a construction such as that shown in Figs. 4 and 5 `or of some similar nature. A transverse shaft 52 passes through bearings or the like 53 at the upper ends of the jack-screws 41, said shaft being provided with rollers 54 received in the channels of the side bars 4|. These rollers preferably engage the lower flanges of the side bars 4| and suitable llers such as 55 secured in the upper portions of the bar channels.

The track frame T in the present showing, consists of the two side bars 4|, and two transverse bars 56 and 51 having their ends secured in the channels of said side bars 4|, saidV bars 5B and 51 being of any desired cross sectional shape. The main mattress frame M overlies the side bars 4| and is provided with brackets 58 project- .ing downwardly at the inner 'sides of Isaid side bars, said brackets being provided with rollers 59 operable in the channels of said side bars. Two of the rollers 59 are cooperable with the transverse frame bar 56 to limit the movement of the mattress frame M toward the foot end of the bed, land two of said rollers coact with the frame bar 51 to limit the movement of said frame M toward the head of the bed. Frame M is vheld in its normal vposition toward the head .of the bed, by Balziutting the drop frame-D whichvthen occupies the raised position shown in Figs. 2 and 6. Suitable self-applying latches 60, however, are pivoted to the sides of the frame M to engage studs 6I on the side bars 4I of the track frame T, to hold said frame M in delivery position at the foot of the bed. These same latches 60 are engageable with other studs 6l on the bars 4I to hold the frame M in the intermediate dotted line position of Fig. 3, if desired, after the infant has been delivered. When frame M is in this position, a sufficient part of the auxiliary mattress section S is exposed to support the v newly born infant while it is receiving the attention immediately necessary.

The rear end of the drop frame D is pivoted at 62 to the upper ends of substantially vertical links 63 whose lower ends are pivoted to the side bars 4| of the track frame T. Preferably a transverse shaft 65 is welded or otherwise secured to the lower ends of the links 63 and the ends of this shaft are mounted in bearings 66 secured to the lower sides of the bars 4|. The front end of the drop frame D is provided with short arms 6l' rigidly secured thereto and projecting outwardly and downwardly, said arms 61 being engageable with the side barsv 4l. In the present showing, these arms areprovided with portions 68 to rest upon the side bars 4l and with stud portions 69 receivable in openings 'l0 in said side bars. If the openings 'Ml be formed with bottoms, the portions 68 may be omitted. By simply lifting the foot end of lthe drop-frame D until the studs 69 are free of the openings 1l), said drop frame may be pulled away from the frame M and lowered to the position seen in Figs. 1 and 3, the inner end of said drop frame being arcuately guided by the links 53 while the arms 61 move arcuately around the foot ends of the side bars 4 I. The links 63, of course, support the inner end of the frame D when the latter is lowered and to support the foot end of said frame, we prefer a U-shaped hanger frame 1| whose ends Yare secured to the side bars 4l, the frame D being notched at D' to engage said hanger frame 1|.

It will bev seen from the foregoing that novel and advantageous provision has been made for carrying out the objects of the invention. Vertical adjusting or tilting may be effected as required, the drop frame D and its mattress section S may be quickly, easily and noiselessly lowered, and the frameM, mattress section S and legsupporting means L supporting the patient, moved forwardly over the depressed drop frame with equal dispatch, said frame M being held in its delivery position by the self-applied latches E0, and later in its intermediate position by these same latches, if desired. The parts may be adjusted quickly and easily to suit the exigencies of the case and the comfort of the patient, the anesthetist is not hampered by any parts of the bed, and the physician is materially assisted. Preferably, the usual anesthetists stand 'l2 is pivotally connected at 13 with the head end of one of the side frames 20 and as the anesthetist follows the patient to delivery position, standing or sitting unobstructedly between the head ends of the side frames 2i! and the side bars 4| of the track frame T, she swings the stand toward the center of the bed for her convenience. We also prefer to provide shoulder chocks 14, a sheet support 15, rings i for the attachment of tug straps, and lifting handles 'l1 for the frame D.

Attention is again invited to the possibility of making variations within the scope of the invention as claimed. Obviously anti-friction bearings may be used throughout if desired and a number of them are indicated at 18.

We claim: 1

1. An obstetrical bed comprising two horizontally elongated side frames disposed in substantially vertical planes, transverse connecting means between said side frames, a substantially horizontal track frame above said side `frames, means between the ends of said side and track frames supporting the latter on the former for vertical adjustment and for tilting, and mattresssupporting means associated with said track frame and including a mattress-section-carrying frame movable from a normal position at the head end of said track frame to a delivery position at the foot end thereof, said head'end of said track frame being free of transverse members and said head ends of said side frames being free of transverse connecting means, permitting an anesthetist or nurse to freely enter between said side frames and occupy a position at the patients head when said mattress-sectioncarrying frame is moved to delivery position.

2. An obstetrical bed comprising two horizontally elongated side frames disposed in substantially vertical planes, transverse connecting means between said side frames, including a bar at the foot ends of said frames against which the attending physician may brace his feet, a substantially horizontal track frame above said side frames, means between the ends of said side and track frames supporting the latter on the former for vertical adjustment and for tilting, and mattress-supporting means associated with said track frame and including a mattress-section-carrying frame movable from a normal position at the head end of said track frame to a'delivery position at the foot end thereof, said head end of said track frame being free of transverse members and the head ends' of said side frames being free of transverse connecting means, permitting an anesthetist or nurse to freely enter between said side frames and occupy a position at the patients head when said mattress-section-carrying frame is moved to `delivery position.

3. An obstetrical bed comprising a track frame, a main mattress frame slidable along said track frame and carrying a main mattress section to support the patient from head to buttocks, an auxiliary drop frame mounted on said track frame and carrying an auxiliary mattress section to support the patients legs, two laterally spaced rigidly mounted jacks under the central portion of said track frame and having vertically adjustable upper portions to which said central portion of said track frame is pivoted on a transverse horizontal axis, additional vertically adjustable jacks connecting said track frame with said upper portions of the rst named jacks for tilting said track frame upon said axis, and means for holding said main mattress frame against sliding on said track frame when the latter is tilted by said additional jacks.

4. An obstetrical bed comprising a track frame, a main mattress frame movable along said track frame and carrying a main mattress section to support the patient from head to buttocks, an. auxiliary drop frame separate from said main mattress frame and carrying an auxiliary mattress section to support the legs, said auxiliary drop frame and auxiliary mattress section being downwardly movable with respect to said main mattress frame and section to allow movement of said main mattress frame and section to a delivery position over said auxiliary drop frame and auxiliary mattress section, longitudinally swingable links pivoted to and projecting upwardly from said track frame and also pivoted to the inner end of said auxiliary drop frame to support said inner end of said auxiliary drop frame in normal raised position, said links being swingable to a position at which they hang from said track frame when said auxiliary drop rame is in lowered position, and means for supporting the outer end of said auxiliary drop frame in either of said positions.

5. An obstetrical bed comprising a track frame, a main mattress frame movable along said track frame and carrying a main mattress section to support the patient from head to buttocks, an auxiliary drop frame separate from said main mattress frame and carrying an auxiliary mattress section to support the legs, said auxiliary drop frame and auxiliary mattress section Vbeing downwardly movable with respect to said main mattress frame and section to allow movement of said main mattress frame and section to a delivery position over said auxiliary drop frame and auxiliary mattress section, longitudinally swingable links connecting the inner end of said auxiliary drop frame with said track frame to support said inner end of said auxiliary Vdrop frame in either normal or lowered position, and lateral lugs on the foot end of said auxiliary drop frame to engage the foot end of said track frame and support said auxiliary drop frame in normal position, said lugs being arcuately movable around said foot end of said track frame as said auxiliary drop frame is moved downwardly on the arcuate path defined by said links.

6. An obstetrical bed comprising a track frame, a main mattress frame movable along said track frame and carrying a main mattress section to support the patient from head to buttocks, an auxiliary drop frame separate from said main mattress frame and carrying an auxiliary mattress section to support the legs, said auxiliary drop frame and auxiliary mattress section being downwardly movable with respect to said main mattress frame and section to allow movement of said main mattress frame and section to a delivery position over said auxiliary drop frame and auxiliary mattress section, longitudinally swingable links connecting the inner end of said auxiliary drop frame with said track frame to support said inner end of said auxiliary drop frame in either normal or lowered position, lateral lugs on the foot end of said auxiliary drop frame to engage the foot end of said track frame and support said auxiliary drop frame in normal position, said lugs being arcuately movable around said foot end of said track frame as said auxiliary drop frame is moved downwardly on the arcuate path defined by said links, and a U- shaped rod secured at its ends to said track frame in position to support the outer end of said v auxiliary drop frame when the latter is in lowered position.

7. In a-bed of the class described, a fixed track frame comprising parallel channel-shaped track bars having their channels disposed inwardly, and at least two transverse bars between the ends of said track bars and having their ends secured in said channels, a superposed slidable frame having rollers operable in said channels between said transverse bars and the ends of said track bars, said transverse bars constituting stops for coaction with said rollers to limit the movements of the superposed frame along the track frame in both directions.

8. An obstetrical bed comprising a floor-supported frame,.a track frame pivoted between its ends on a transverse axis to said floor-supported frame, a main mattress frame carrying a main mattress section to support the patient from head to buttocks, means slidably mounting said main mattress frame on said track frame, an auxiliary drop frame free of connection with said main mattress frame and carrying an auxiliary mattress section to support the patients legs, means mounting said auxiliary frame in end-to-end relation with said main mattress frame and constructed to allow dropping of said auxiliary frame to a position at which saidmain mattress frame may slide over the same to a delivery position, releasable means for holding said main mattress frame in said delivery position, and means for tilting Vsaid track frame in a direction to raise the foot end thereof; whereby the patient supported in delivery position by said main mattress section may be quickly moved to shock position; if it be necessary to keep the patient in shock position, said main and auxiliary frames and mattress sections may be restored to end-to-end relation to comfortably support her while said track frame remains inclined; and the mattress sections may be easily restored to horizontal position when the patients condition permits.

l9. An obstetrical bed comprising two horizontally elongated side frames disposed in substantially vertical planes, transverse connecting means vbetween said side frames, a substantially horizontal track frame at the upper portions of said side frames, means between the ends of said side and track frames tiltably supporting the latter on the former, mattress-supporting means supported by said track frame and including a mattress-section-carrying frame slidable from a normal position at the head end of said track frame to a delivery position at the foot end thereof, means for positively holding said mattresssection-carrying frame in said delivery position, and means for holding said track frame in inclined position to similarly hold said mattresssection-carrying frame if the patient must be supported in shock position.

10. An obstetrical bed comprising a floor-supported frame, a normally horizontal tiltable track frame pivoted on a transverse axis to said floorsupported frame, means for tilting said track frame and holding it in tilted position,a main mattress frame slidable on said tiltable track frame and having a main mattress section to support the patient from head to buttocks, a normally horizontal drop frame having an auxiliary mattress section normally in the plane of said main mattress section to support the patients legs, said auxiliary mattress section and drop frame being movable to a lowered position at which said main mattress frame and section may slide thereover and means mounting said drop frame on said tiltable track frame independently of said floorsupported frame and independently of said main mattress frame.

ADRIAN COMPER. MALCOLM T. MACEACHERN. 

